NFL suspends Tampa Bay duo, free agent for COVID-19 violations

On3 imageby:Nick Schultz12/02/21

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Miami Dolphins v Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

Three NFL players — including two Tampa Bay Buccaneers players — were suspended Thursday for violating COVID-19 protocols, the league announced.

Buccaneers wide receiver Antonio Brown, Bucs safety Mike Edwards and free agent John Franklin III have been suspended for three games after they “misrepresented their vaccination status,” according to a press release from the NFL. All three players have waived their rights to appeal, meaning they’ve accepted the suspensions.

The NFL and NFL Players’ Association released a joint statement about the decisions.

“The health and safety of players and personnel is our top priority,” the statement read. “The protocols were jointly developed working with our respective experts to ensure that we are practicing and playing football as safely as possible during the ongoing pandemic. The NFL-NFLPA jointly reinforce their commitment and further emphasize the importance of strict adherence to the protocols to protect the well-being of everyone associated with the NFL.”

The Buccaneers responded to the suspensions with a brief statement on their Twitter.

“We appreciate the League’s timely handling of this matter and recognize the importance of the health and safety protocols that have been established,” the statement read. “We will continue to implement all league COVID-19 protocols.”

Brown is one of Tampa Bay’s top weapons and was accused last month of using a fake COVID-19 vaccination card. He has been dealing with an ankle injury, so he hasn’t played since Week 6. ESPN previously reported he would miss another couple weeks with the injury.

Edwards has 35 tackles for Tampa Bay along with three interceptions — two of which were pick-sixes against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 2. Franklin, a former Auburn standout, was most recently on the Buccaneers before he was released on Aug. 17.

The suspensions are effective immediately, the league said. Tampa Bay is getting ready to take on the Falcons Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.

Report: Antonio Brown accused of obtaining fake vaccination card

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Antonio Brown is in trouble again. The Tampa Bay Times reports he obtained a fake COVID-19 vaccination card to avoid NFL COVID-19 protocols.

The accusation came from Brown’s former live-in chef, Steven Ruiz, who told Rick Stroud that Brown’s girlfriend was involved in getting him a fake vaccination card to get around the NFL’s protocols.

Brown was willing to pay $500 for a fake Johnson & Johnson vaccination card back in July, Stroud reported. Ruiz provided The Times with screenshots of text messages with Brown’s girlfriend to set it up.

The Buccaneers released a statement about the report that day saying they didn’t find anything wrong with players’ vaccination cards.

“After an extensive educational process conducted throughout our organization this past offseason highlighting the benefits of the COVID-19 vaccines, we received completed vaccination cards from all Tampa Bay Buccaneers players and submitted the required information to the NFL through the established process in accordance with league policy,” the statement read. “All vaccination cards were reviewed by Buccaneers personnel and no irregularities were observed.”